Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations Midge overpopulation

Sorry I am new to this forum so hope I’m doing this right. We have about a 300 acre lake that interesting has a saline concentration of about 4 ppm in Nebraska. It was dredged approximately 10 years ago and had a large fish kill at the time. Since this dredging it has had a breakout infestation of midges. They have tried to add back fish to control the larvae but have had trouble maintaining a fish population due to the saline content as well as a large population of pelican’s that frequent lake. Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to control this midge population. Thanks.

There are forum members who are experts in aeration. There are Vertex brand aerator knowledgeable folks who may see this post and be able to chime in.

This study was done by Vertex:

Aeration controls midges...

You are lucky in that sense that your lake is private and has a managing association so you should be able to share the costs of setting up aeration stations around the lake with the association owners.

Every lake association that I know of that could get folks to agree to put money towards aeration rather than chemicals found multiple benefits (less dredging, less muck, less detritus and leaves, clearer water, less fish kills from unexpected turnover events, and sandier bottomed beachfronts.)

In the long run probably way cheaper than chemicals especially if you run the lines yourself and already have multiple places where you can provide power to a network of small aeration stations.

Hi JJkss - welcome to the forum.

I'm in Lincoln, suppose you're talking about Capital Beach? Sounds like the midges there have been a major issue for several years now.

Feel free to reach out sometime, happy to help. Bottom line you may need a depredation permit for the Pelicans...if you have no fishery to control invertebrates, they'll proliferate per your experience unchecked.